"Holly? Holly, where are you?" Artemis entered the Manor in a frenzy. Holly had not answered a single call within the past thirty hours. In that time Artemis had used every mode of technology in attempts to communicate with her. None had succeeded.

"Artemis, did it occur to you that she may have gone home?" Butler tried to calm the Irish youth's nerves in vain.

"She would have told me, Butler. She would have at least had the decency to answer a phone call to let me know that she was safe." The boy's voice cracked upon speaking the last word. He ran up the stairs in hopes that he would find her on the second floor.

"She can take care of-"

"Can she?" Artemis spun around from his search to meet him. He was several stairs higher than Butler, enabling him to look his manservant in the eye. "Could any of the other girls take care of themselves? Could Caldwell take care of himself? We are dealing with monsters. No, she would have at least left a message!"

"Go," Butler urged the boy to continue looking. He had known that Artemis was right. In the past few months he had seen Artemis transform from a collected man to a man that would jump at the slightest sound. One thing had not changed, however, Artemis's need to be right. Butler could not think of a logical explanation for the elf's behavior. It worried him almost as much as it worried his charge.

Artemis ran up the stairs and into the room that Holly had been sleeping. It was a foolish fantasy that she would still be there; sleeping peacefully. He would have held her tightly and apologized for not believing her. She would be safe in his arms. The idyllic images filled his mind as he stood in front of the empty bed.

The boy moved towards the headboard. He allowed his fingers to slide across sheets as he walked; a false sense of support. It took everything in him not to fall to his knees which he might have done had he not seen the parchment. The note rested, popping against the bright red of the pillow.

"What did she say?" Butler had swiftly caught up with his charge. He watched the boy's pensive eyes dart across the letter.

"She's gone to sort this mess out by herself. She couldn't wait any longer." His voice was void of any emotion.

"Did she say where she has gone?" Butler thought it rude to read the note over the boy's shoulder, so instead he waited by his side.

"No. She didn't want to put us in danger. Get your coat." Artemis dropped the note and headed for the door.

"You know where she is." Butler mused. It was not a question.

"Of course I do."

Holly hovered next to the girl's window. The elf had been watching her all day, but not once was given an opportune moment alone with her. Holly didn't know why she was doing this; perhaps it was because this mud girl was the only one who would actually help her.

Holly watched as the girl finished applying a face mask. She was getting ready for bed. Now was the best time to get her attention. She tapped gently on the window.

"Hello?" Daniela looked out the window. It was dark outside, but she could make out a figure, "Mulch, you're going to get sick! Just go home."

"Mulch?" Holly's voice was distinct through the glass.

"Wait...Holly?" Daniela looked dumbfounded through the window. "Holly, oh my gosh, what are you doing here?"

"I needed to talk to you, but did you say Mulch? As in Mulch Diggums?" Holly spoke as Daniela opened the window to let her inside the warm room.

"Yeah, I think that was his last name?" The young woman grabbed a fuzzy blanket and put it around the cold elf's shoulders. "Oh my gosh, girl, you're freezing! Do you want some hot chocolate, or something?"

"I'm alright." Holly stared at the girl whose face looked as if it were covered in mud. She saw the two cucumbers on her bed side and almost felt bad for ruining her relaxing night. "But, why on earth did you think Mulch was outside your window? I haven't seen him in weeks. How do you even know him?"

"That's really weird." Daniela sat cross legged on the bed, and closed a dripping nail polish bottle. "He said that you sent him to watch me."

"What? He could be halfway around the world for all I know."

"He seemed pretty set that you sent him." She shrugged her shoulders.

"What did he talk about?" Holly squinted her eyes slightly, trying to gauge the girl's expression.

"Oh geez, wow, I don't even remember. He ate my pizza, and tried to steal my laptop. We got into a fight." The girl was withholding information, and Holly could tell. It was the elf's biggest pet peeve. She like the girl very much, but did not have time for these games.

"Daniela, I need you to be honest with me." Holly kept her voice calm. Had this been a few months prior, Holly would have had the girl pinned to the ground. That would have gotten her to talk. Unfortunately, those days were long gone, and different tactics were needed.

"He might have said that the Djinni threat wasn't over." She looked away from the elf for a moment. "But I'm so confused, why on Earth would he say that you sent him if you didn't?"

"Can I see your laptop." It wasn't a question. Holly grabbed it before the girl could protest and began to look through her search history.

"I was just curious." Daniela immediately spoke as she saw the elf's eyes widen.

"Summoning spells?" Holly's eyes did not once break away from the laptop. "Why were you looking at summoning spells? Wasn't one near death experience enough for you?"

"No, I wasn't going to actually summon anything. I just wanted to know how it could have been done. It was all for research purposes; I swear! I really just wanted to help in case -"

"Daniela, please don't play with fire!"

"I wasn't. I just wanted to know everything I could about them in case anything were to happen again. I promise."

"Okay, okay calm down. I believe you." Holly looked the mud girl in the eye. If she had any hidden death wish it was buried so deep that Holly could not tell.

"Mulch seemed interested in everything though. He, like, really wanted to talk about it." The young woman confessed. "I thought it was kind of weird."

"I see." Holly bit the inside corner of her mouth. This confirmed everything. She had been right all along; there were no more need for questions. "He's probably going to come again. When he does, I will be here. Let him in, but don't let him know that I am here."

"Sure," Daniela leaned close to the elf, "Holly, are you okay? Are you sure you don't want any hot chocolate?"

"I'm sure. Do you mind if I stay here tonight?" Holly was sincerely hoping that the answer would be positive. This was the only place she could go without the fear that she would wake up restrained. She cared deeply for Artemis, Foaly, Caballine, and Trouble. They were typically her safe havens, but they were all so wary of her impulses at the moment that she feared they would consider her crazy. She did not want to be locked away for her 'own good.'

"Of course, you can." She smiled at the elf. "Want me to do your nails? We can order pizza! The night is still young."

"Sure, why not." Holly laughed to diffuse the tension. "Can you just promise me that no one will know that I'm here? Promise? I'm going to have to come and go a lot, but no one can know."

"Of course. Guys can be stupid, I know. How about this one?" Daniela held up a bottle of nail polish. "I think gold would look so good on you."

"That sounds great." Holly let Daniela's words sink in and let out a small laugh. "Guys can be very stupid."

Butler was ready to follow his charge, but could not bring himself to move. Artemis would surely know that his manservant was not on his heels, but this could not stop him from bending down and picking up the fallen note. He brushed it off, and began to read.

Arty,

First, you need to know that you are loved, and listen, I know I'm not very good at this kind of thing. I've never really been the most eloquent, and have often tried to avoid this topic, but I love you. You are the most amazing person, and I will do whatever it takes to protect you. Sometimes protecting people means doing reckless things. We both know that I'm not the greatest at following orders, and I thought it was better to ask forgiveness than permission. That was a stupid joke; I'm sorry. That doesn't make it easier.

You have always been special. There is something about you that is just magical, for lack of a better word. For so many years you have been by my side. We were such wonderful partners in crime; and it's so odd that only recently have I been able to tell you that I love you. We have fought so many battles together, and you have put your life on the line for me more times than I could possibly say. Now, I could not live with myself if you put your life on the line for me again.

I just really need to sort this mess out for myself. I can't wait any longer. This is not your fight. It never was your fight. I would never forgive myself if anything bad happened to you. You cannot stand in my place, I will not allow it. I will be back soon, and everything will be okay. No matter what happens just know that you will always be loved.

Holly